João 8
R.C.H. Lenski · Citado em PreceptAustin
João 8
Lenski - In order that we may understand why Jesus continues his discourse in the way in which he does in v. 28, 29, John introduces an explanatory remark. (Borrow The Interpretation of St. John's Gospel) J Michael Ramsey - Jesus has not used the expression “the Father,” or “my Father,” in any of this, yet the Gospel writer and the readers of the Gospel all know that “the One who sent me” (Jn 8:26) is in fact God the Father (see Jn 5:37; 6:39, 40, 57; 8:16, 18). “The Jews” to whom Jesus is speaking say nothing, and the writer pauses to explain in a narrative aside that they do not share this knowledge....Jesus has mentioned “the Father” only sparingly in this discourse, and when he did (Jn 8:16 and Jn 8:18), his use of the term invited only confusion (see Jn 8:19a, “Where is your father?”). The comment here confirms the earlier charge against them that “You know neither me nor my Father; if you knew me, you would know my Father” (Jn 8:19b). (BORROW The Gospel of John) It is interesting that the Jews seem to have forgotten what had happened in His most recent visit to Jerusalem (perhaps these were a different group of Jews in John 8) where John records "For this reason (Jn 5:17) therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because (2 REASONS) He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God." (Jn 5:18+) NET Note adds that they did not realized… about his Father "is a parenthetical note by the author. This type of comment, intended for the benefit of the reader, is typical of the “omniscient author” convention adopted by the author, who is writing from a postresurrection point of view. He writes with the benefit of later knowledge that those who originally heard Jesus’ words would not have had. They (absolutely) did not realize (ginosko)(did not understand) that He had been speaking to them about the Father (pater) - They refers to the Jews, and likely especially the religious leaders. Since they did not truly know Jesus, how could they really know He had been speaking about His Father, for it was Jesus Who explained the Father (Jn 1:18). But still the fact that they did not have a clue that Jesus had been talking to them about His Father is amazing because He has repeatedly stated He was sent from Him (see note above). In addition He had frequently, openly declared that God was His Father. Recall His first declaration which very likely some in the present audience had heard, for He had made this declaration some 3 years prior in the Temple when He said “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” (Jn 2:16) The Jews knew that the Temple was God's house and here they heard Him declare that this God was His Father! And then on another visit to Jerusalem He declared "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working." (Jn 5:17-47 - Jesus mentions His Father 14 times!!!). So again when Jesus was in the city of Jerusalem, the Jewish religious leaders clearly heard Jesus call God His Father! And this second time, they clearly did understand that He was calling God His Own Father thus making Himself equal with God. This realization motivated the Jewish leaders even more to put Him to death! (Jn 5:18). In John 6 the Father Jesus mentions His Father 11 more times! In John 8 Jesus mentions His Father 6 more times! Given this background, it is amazing that the Jews did now not understand Jesus had been speaking of the Father. Jesus conclusion regarding the Jews points out their deep spiritual blindness. The religious men were like Paul described as those "whose case the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (2Co 4:4+) These religious men were natural men who "did not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to (them); and (they) cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised." (1Co 2:14+) Unless the Lord opens eyes, none of us can see God's spiritual truths. Charles Swindoll has an interesting comment on the verb translated realize stating that ginosko "refers to intelligent comprehension with an emphasis on the process or act of knowing. Throughout John’s literature, “knowing” and “obeying” are inseparable (as they are in Old Testament literature). In the Upper Room, Jesus placed great emphasis on His followers knowing the mind of God so they might become integral to His redemptive plan. The disciples struggled with lack of understanding until they received the Holy Spirit. (See Insights on John - Google Books) Westcott: The Lord meets the taunt of His opponents by developing that difference of nature in which lay at once the cause of their inability to follow Him, and the cause of their inability to understand Him. He and they belonged essentially to different regions; the spring of their life, the sphere of their thoughts, were separated from the spring and the sphere of His by an infinite chasm. The difference was equally great whether it was regarded in its final source or in its present manifestation. The circumstances of earthly life give scope for the embodiment of two characters absolutely opposed. For earthly life lies between and in connexion with two orders, and it includes in itself two orders. It may be swayed by higher or lower influences; it may be fashioned on a fleeting or on an eternal type. And between these there can be no fellowship. (See THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST JOHN - Google Books)
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Lenski - A silly shrewdness lies back of this question: the certainty that Jesus cannot produce this second witness in the way they intimate. In this demand on Jesus to present his second witness these Pharisees repeat their proceeding of v. 13: they dodge the main issue by raising a minor one that is wholly immaterial. The main issue is: Does God testify as Jesus says, or does he not so testify? In 5:36, etc., God’s testimony was given to the Pharisees: the works of Jesus and the Old Testament declarations concerning Jesus. This double testimony is undeniable and incontrovertible. These men brazenly set it aside and instead fasten on the point that Jesus should produce this second witness in person before them....People who ask where the Father is, who want him produced so that they can place him on the witness stand, thereby demonstrate that they do not know him at all, and no wonder, then, that they also do not know him whom God has sent. God is always on the witness stand of his written Word, where all who will may hear his testimony in full and thus also learn to know him most intimately and adequately. Those who reject this testimony know neither the Father nor the Son—and the guilt of this ignorance is theirs alone. (Borrow The Interpretation of St. John's Gospel) John 8:20 These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come. in the treasury: 1Ch 9:26 Mt 27:6 Mk 12:41,43, Lk 21:1 and no: Jn 8:59, Jn 7:8,30,44, Jn 10:39, Jn 11:9-10 Lu 13:31-33 Lk 20:19 John 8 - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: John 8:59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple. John 7:8; 30; 44 “Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.” 30 So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. 44 Some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid hands on Him. John 10:39 Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp. John 2:4 And Jesus *said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” John 7:6 So Jesus *said to them, “My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. See Note at Bottom Right pointing to the Court of the Women Click to Enlarge (Source: ESV global study bible) JESUS WAS ON A DIVINE TIMETABLE These words (rhema) He spoke in the treasury (gazophulakion) - These words refer to the somewhat antagonistic (speaking of the Pharisees) interchange in Jn 8:12-19 which had been initiated by Jesus' profession that He was the Light of the world. The treasury was a place in the temple's Court of Women (this was as far into the temple as women were permitted to go) where 13 trumpet-shaped containers (each marked to designate the purpose of the offering) were set to receive various monies (also site of the story of the poor widow in Mk 12:41-44, Lk 21:1-4). Leon
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Lenski says it is one of the most disputed passages in the NT (See D A Carson's explanation or Ryle below). If one takes the beginning as referring to the beginning of His ministry (after being baptized by John - see Acts 10:37-38+), this would refer to all that He had previously taught. Mounce sums it up this way - All such statements point to the same conclusion—that he is in fact the Son of God sent to bring a fallen human race back into fellowship with the Father. The testimony has been clear from the very beginning. (See The Expositor's Bible Commentary) Ray Stedman on the beginning suggests that "It is a phrase that ought to be translated, "Absolutely and fundamentally what I have told you all along. Absolutely what I am, that is who I am. What I have been saying to you all along." Then Jesus says, "I have much more to say to you about you, and it is all true because it comes from the One who sent me." John has to record sadly, "They did not understand that he spoke to them of the Father." Steven
João 8
Lenski - Let them (THE JEWS) understand that in every word of warning and of judgment from the lips of Jesus they hear the word and the verdict of his great Sender. Will their conscience still remain callous? The breadth of Jesus’ statement covers also his offers of grace and escape from sin and death (v. 24). Back of these, too, is the Sender of Jesus. Will the hearts of these Jews still refuse faith?....Since Jesus here includes all his speaking, he says, “these things I am telling in the world” and not merely to these Jewish rulers. (Borrow The Interpretation of St. John's Gospel)
João 8
Lenski adds "anthropoktonos is the very word that Jesus used with reference to the devil in John 8:44; it applies to all the devil’s children (1Jn 3:10b); included among these are the anti-Christians who have gone out from us (1Jn 2:19). John has called the latter liars (1Jn 1:6, 10; 2:22) and combines liar and man-murderer as Jesus does in John 8:44. Let the deniers of the deity and of the expiation of Jesus (1Jn 1:7; 2:2) read this double verdict on them!" Lie (falsehood) (5579) pseudos from pseudomai = to lie) (See another discussion of pseudos) (See pseudos combined with other words in Scripture) refers to conscious and intentional falsehood. The basic sense is that which is false (untrue, not according to truth or fact). Pseudos is a falsehood that has the purpose of deception (or that which causes one to accept as true or valid that which is actually false or invalid). A lie is a statement used with the intention of deceiving or defrauding. Lies are not only the spoken words but also actions (1Jn 1:6 - verb pseudomai) or a reference to idols (Amos 2:4 - where "their lies" ~ their vain idols). Lying is a natural expression of Satan's character (John 8:44). Liar (5583) pseustes from pseudomai = to lie) is one who speaks falsehood, untruth, and so attempts to deceive. Thayer adds that pseustes describes "one who breaks faith, a false or faithless man." Pseustes -10v - Jn. 8:44; Jn. 8:55; Rom. 3:4; 1 Tim. 1:10; Tit. 1:12; 1 Jn. 1:10; 1 Jn. 2:4; 1 Jn. 2:22; 1 Jn. 4:20; 1 Jn. 5:10 Breaking The Spin Cycle "[Satan] was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. . . . He is a liar and the father of it." John 8:44 Politicians are adept at “spinning” the details of a story to advance their own agenda. During a political campaign, spin doctors massage stories to ensure that their candidate is cast in a positive light—often at the expense of the truth. This leaves us with serious questions about what the real truth is. According to Jesus, Satan is the “spin doctor” of hell—the master deceiver who “speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar” (John 8:44). He casts himself as the one who wants to give us unfettered freedom and pleasure, carefully masking his plan to steal, kill, and destroy us (John 10:10). He even spins the loving laws of God by claiming that God’s boundaries are restrictive, simply intended to take all the fun out of living. When we buy into Satan’s damaging lies, we will eventually find ourselves empty and broken—sidelined in our journey with God. Thankfully, Jesus warns us. He says that Satan is the father of lies. And we know Satan is lying when what he tells us contradicts God’s Word. Jesus, on the other hand, is the truth (John 14:6). So, when it comes to sorting out the spin, our only defense against the spin doctor of hell is to listen constantly for the voice of Jesus as we pray and study His Word. And that’s the truth! The devil is crafty, deceptive, and sly; He cleverly tricks us to swallow his lie. But his cunning methods we’re sure to discern If we make God’s warnings our daily concern. —D. De Haan God’s truth stops the spin of Satan’s lies. I Was Deceived [The devil] is a liar and the father of it. — John 8:44 Today's Scripture: John 8:34-47 It was dusk. My wife and I had just strolled across the famous Charles Bridge in Prague when a man approached us with a wad of money in his hand. “Forty-two Czech korunas for one dollar,” he said. The official rate was about 35Ks for one US dollar. So I exchanged 50 dollars for 2,100 Czech korunas. That evening I told my son about my good fortune. “Dad, I should have told you,” he apologized. “Never exchange money on the street.” We looked at the bills. The 100K note was a good Czech bill, but the two 1,000K bills were worthless. They looked like Czech money but were Bulgarian notes no longer in circulation. I had been deceived—and robbed! Satan employs similar tactics (John 8:44). He capitalizes on the deceitfulness of sin, using its “passing pleasures” (Hebrews 11:25) to hide the pain that always follows. Sin may be attractive, even offering something that in and of itself is good—but behind it is deception. Our best defense against that deception is to have a growing knowledge of God’s Word. As we follow the psalmist’s example, we’ll keep from being deceived by sin: “Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). By: Dennis J. DeHaan Give me, O Lord, a strong desire To look within Your Word each day; Help me to hide it in my heart, Lest from its truth my feet would stray. —Branon God's truth uncovers Satan's lies. Honestly Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight. —Proverbs 12:22 Today's Scripture: Proverbs 12:17-22 Today is National Honesty Day in the United States. It is a little-known designation for April 30, but an important one nonetheless. Author M. Hirsh Goldberg established National Honesty Day in the early 1990s as a way to honor the honorable and encourage honesty. He said that April 30 was selected because “April begins with a day dedicated to lying [April Fool’s Day] and should end on a higher moral note.” Honesty Day would be a good time to review the value of this trait according to God’s Word. Honesty is not as easy as it seems—but we please God by striving for it. An understanding of honesty begins with recognizing that God—our ultimate example—is truth (Deut. 32:4) and that He cannot lie (Num. 23:19; Heb. 6:18). Also, He hates falsehood (Prov. 6:16-19). Beyond that, all lies have as their originator Satan himself (John 8:44). For our part, we can use these Scriptures as our guide: “A righteous man hates lying” (Prov. 13:5); love rejoices in truth (1 Cor. 13:6); lying is part of the old nature (Col. 3:9); growth means setting aside deceit (1 Peter 2:1); and speaking truth declares righteousness (Prov. 12:17). Let’s make every day Honesty Day. By: Dave Branon Help me, dear Lord, to be honest and true In all that I say and all that I do; Give me the courage to do what is right, To bring to the world a glimpse of Your light. —Fasick People who trust God’s Word should be people whose word can be trusted. Charles Stanley - THE APPEAL OF TEMPTATION from Pathways to His Presence SCRIPTURE READING: JOHN 8:43–47 KEY VERSE: JOHN 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. Satan is so cunning that he was able to deceive Eve into sinning. Her response to his question in the third chapter of Genesis reveals that she knew exactly what God had told her. Aren’t we exactly the same today? We know precisely what God’s Word says. Still, we often fail to obey Him. Do you spend more time indulging your desires—even if it sometimes means bordering on sin—than you do meditating on God’s Word and praying? We humans have finite minds and all kinds of emotions; on our own, it is almost impossible to successfully combat temptations thrown at us by an enemy who is supernatural. Read Pastor John MacArthur’s commentary on the ruthlessness of Satan as expressed in today’s passage: Satan, emboldened by [Eve’s] openness to him, spoke a direct lie. This lie actually led her and Adam to spiritual death (separation from God). So, Satan is called a liar and murderer from the beginning (John 8:44). His lies always promise great benefits. Eve experienced this result. She and Adam did know good and evil; but because of personal corruption, they did not know as God knows in perfect holiness. When Satan throws his darts, simply say, “Lord, thank You that I’m Your child. Please protect me.” Remember that He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). God is faithful. He will lead you to freedom through the way of escape. Lord, thank You that I am Your child. Please protect me from the fiery darts of Satan. (ED: AND I WOULD ADD FROM THE SUBTLE SEDUCTION OF SIN IN ME!) Would I Lie To You? Do not lie to one another. — Colossians 3:9 Today's Scripture: Colossians 3:1-11 Lying seems to be a way of life for many people. Several years ago a survey found that 91 percent of those queried lie routinely about matters they consider trivial; 36 percent lie about important matters; 86 percent lie regularly to their parents; 75 percent lie to their friends; 73 percent lie to their siblings; 69 percent lie to their spouses. Speaking the truth should be one of the outstanding characteristics of a follower of Christ. According to Colossians 3:9, a believer should not lie, since he has “put off the old man with his deeds.” Whenever we are deceitful, we are following Satan’s example, “for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44). Lies are based on the false assumption that we can hide a wrong and protect ourselves from the truth by simply denying the facts. But lying merely compounds a problem. Honest confession, on the other hand, is the quickest way to forgiveness, and it puts us back under the wise counsel and care of God. Father, help us to live today so that we will feel no need to cover up anything we do or say. When we do sin, give us the courage to come immediately to the light rather than hiding in the temporary darkness of a lie. — Mart DeHaan O Lord, help me to come to You When I would rather hide; Give me the courage to confess My failures and my pride. —Sper To avoid lying, do nothing that needs a coverup. QUESTION - What does it mean that Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44)? ANSWER - Speaking to a group of Jews, Jesus says, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Satan is the “father of lies” in that he is the original liar. He is the “father” of lies in the same way that Martin Luther is the “father” of the Reformation and Robert Goddard is the “father” of modern rocketry. Satan told the first lie in recorded history to Eve, in the Garden of Eden. After planting seeds of doubt in Eve’s mind with a question (Genesis 3:1), he directly contradicts God’s Word by telling her, “You will not certainly die” (Genesis 3:4). With that lie, Satan led Eve to her death; Adam followed, and so have we all. Lying is Satan’s primary weapon against God’s children. He uses the tactic of deceit to separate people from their heavenly Father. Some of his more common lies are “there is no God,” “God doesn’t care about you,” “the Bible cannot be trusted,” and “your good works will get you into heaven.” The apostle Paul tells us that Satan “masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14), so that what he says and does sounds good and seems reasonable. But it is nothing more than a false appearance. Many of Satan’s lies tend to perpetuate themselves. This is what happened when Eve convinced Adam to also believe the devil’s lie. Today, Satan still uses people to spread his lies for him. Often, he uses charismatic but foolish people to further his falsehoods, as in the case of false religions and cults. The Bible has many names for Satan to describe his true nature, including “ruler of this world” (John 12:31), “god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4), “tempter” (1 Thessalonians 3:5), “deceiver” (Revelation 12:9), “Beelzebub” (literally, “lord of the flies,” the ruler of demons, in Matthew 10:25), and “Belial,” meaning “wicked” (2 Corinthians 6:15). (ED: SEE RELATED RESOURCE Schemes of the Devil) Satan has told more lies to more people (and even angels) than any other being ever created. His success depends on people believing his lies. He has used everything from “little white lies” to huge, pants-on-fire whoppers to deceive folks. Adolph Hitler, a man who learned how to lie effectively, once said, “If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed.” Whether a lie is small or large is not really the issue. Lies are of the devil. The Bible teaches that all liars “will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death” (Revelation 21:8+). Warnings are never pleasant, but they are better than ignorance of danger; the Bible faithfully warns sinners of danger, including the danger of lying. Proverbs 19:9 also teaches that liars will be punished. Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6), and He will never deceive you. Thankfully, Jesus is also the Savior, and His death and resurrection provide the basis for your forgiveness of all sin, including the sin of lying. Come to Jesus in faith and humility, and you will find that “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). GotQuestions.org (used by permission) Henry Blackaby - The Father of Lies (borrow The Experience: A Devotional and Journal: Day by Day with God) “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”John 8:44 Satan is an intriguing character. Movies, songs, and books portray him in a wide variety of personas, from a harmless cartoon character to a powerful, grotesque monster. The world, for the most part, dismisses his existence, except as a character in horror movies. Christians fear him. Some cults worship him. Across the board, there seems to be great confusion about who Satan really is and how much power he has. That shouldn’t surprise us because he’s the master of confusion. Jesus revealed exactly who Satan is and what he’s about. He’s a liar. His primary weapon is deception. Christians often credit Satan with powers he doesn’t have. We talk as though he can be everywhere, like God, or as though he can read our minds. We refer to him as God’s evil counterpart, with God using his power for good, and Satan using his for evil. We’ve watched too much science fiction! Satan is not, and has never been, God’s equal. Satan is a heavenly, created being. He sends out his demons because he can only be in one place at a time. Satan is an expert in understanding how we think, but nowhere does the Bible say he can read our thoughts. Christians cannot be demon possessed, as some say, because Jesus dwells within us. Satan has no power over Jesus (Matthew 12:29). We can be tempted to use Satan as a scapegoat, blaming him for our sin. We act as though we’re the powerless victims of Satan’s manipulation. That’s an excuse. Christ’s death on the cross freed us from sin’s bondage; when we sin, we deliberately choose to disobey God. The devil can’t make us do it! Where did you pick up your ideas about Satan? Only the Bible presents Satan as he really is—the father of lies. Don’t become preoccupied with Satan, giving him credit where it’s not warranted. Stay close to Jesus, the Truth, and you’ll not be deceived by Satan’s trickery. QUESTION - What is the significance of Jesus telling the Jews, “You are of your father the devil” (John 8:44)? ANSWER - In John 8:31–47, the Jewish religious leaders claimed to be descendants of Abraham, with God Himself as their “true Father” (verse 41, NLT; see also verses 33, 37, and 39). But Jesus confronted them by saying, “You are of your father the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44CSB). The Pharisees and teachers of the law believed their relationship with Abraham set them free from sin and error, making them automatic children of God. But Jesus presented them with the ultimate fail-safe paternity test: “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father” (John 8:39–41). Jesus affirmed that a person’s actions reveal his inner nature. The way we live and behave proves our true paternity. If Abraham is our father, we will share his character. We will be like Abraham, believing in God and obeying His truth (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6). Abraham was known as “God’s friend” (Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23) and for good reason. He loved God, listened to Him, and obeyed His truth even when he didn’t understand it (see Genesis 22:1–24). Abraham’s obedience proved his character as God’s child. The Jewish leaders were nothing like Abraham. Their rebellion confirmed they were children of the devil (Acts 13:10; Matthew 13:38). Jesus told the Jewish religious leaders, “You are of your father the devil,” because they behaved like the devil. “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God,” explained Jesus (John 8:42). The devil is God’s enemy. He opposes God’s presence, purposes, and people in this world (Matthew 16:23; 1 Chronicles 21:1; Ephesians 6:11–13; 1 John 3:7–10; Revelation 12:10; 13:6). True children of God love Jesus (1 John 5:1), but the devil hates Him. Satan is a murderer (John 8:44; 1 John 3:12), and the Jewish leaders were cut from the same cloth, looking for a way to kill Jesus (John 7:1; 8:37, 40). Their hate-filled, murderous actions proved that they, like Cain, “belonged to the evil one,” their father, the devil (1 John 3:10). After he killed his brother Abel, Cain lied about it (Genesis 4). Jesus said the Jewish leaders could not understand His words because their native tongue was lying, the same language as the devil’s: “He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! . . . Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God” (John 8:44–47NLT). If we are God’s children, then we “participate in the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:1–4) and walk in His truth (Ephesians 5:8–9; 2 John 1:4; 3 John 1:4). But if we are of our father the devil, we share in his evil nature and have no truth in us. The devil brought spiritual and physical death to humankind by telling a lie (Genesis 3:4, 13; 1 John 3:8, 10–15). Today, he still distorts the truth, doing everything in his power to lead people away from God, who is the source of truth and life (2 Corinthians 4:4). The Bible says obedience, love, and truthfulness are marks of a true child of God: “So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God” (1 John 3:10NLT). Jesus told the Jewish leaders, “You are of your father the devil,” because there was no room in their hearts for Christ’s message of life and truth (John 8:37). These religious pretenders showed their true colors as murderers, liars, and rejectors of God’s salvation in Jesus Christ. By refusing God’s words of truth and life, they forfeited their opportunity to become His children (John 3:19–20; 8:40).GotQuestions.org John 8:45 "But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. Jn 3:19,20 7:7 Ga 4:16 2Th 2:10 2Ti 4:3,4 John 8 - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries BELIEVE JESUS FOR HE SPEAKS THE TRUTH Jesus had alluded to the truth in John 8:40 declaring “But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a Man Who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do." But - Term of contrast. The father of lies who speaks nothing but lies is now contrasted with Jesus Who is truth and speaks truth. because I speak the truth (aletheia) you (absolutely) do not believe (pisteuo) Me - Jesus had just stated that they could not hear His Word with spiritual understanding (Jn 8:43) Now He says they refused to receive His Word of truth. They did not desire the truth. The truth of Jesus threatens unbelievers because it exposes their sinful hearts (Jn 3:19-20+), so in this context, the Jews seek to eliminate the Messenger! Jesus uses the same verb for believe that John used to describe the Jews who believed in Him in John 8:30. Clearly, their profession of belief was not genuine, saving belief. J